6 Best Baby Monitors on the Market (Review and Buyers Guide)

The 6 Best Baby Monitors

Review and Buyers Guide

What is a Baby Monitor?

As parents, we worry about our little ones all the time. Having a baby monitor can help reassure you that your baby is safe, even when you are not in the same room as them. So, what exactly is a baby monitor? A baby monitor is an electric device that allows you to hear and or see your baby when you are not is in the same room.

An audio baby monitor is equipped with a microphone that when placed near your baby, it will transmit sounds to the parent unit that you keep with you so you can hear your baby when you are not in the same room.

A video baby monitor has an added feature as it not only transmits the sounds that your baby makes, it also allows you to visually see your baby from another room.

Baby movement monitors use sensor pads that are placed under the crib mattress or clips directly onto your baby’s diaper, to detect your baby’s movement. When movement stops an alarm will sound, alerting you that something is wrong. Some believe that using baby movement monitors can help prevent SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome) however, there is no scientific evidence to support this claim. Even though there is no evidence that they help prevent SIDS, they are a great help to nervous mothers feel more at ease.

With so many different kinds of monitors on the market, it can be tough deciding which one best fits your needs. Do I need a video monitor or an audio monitor? Should I get a baby movement monitor too? How far of a range does the monitor have? How much do I want to spend on a monitor? These are all things you ask yourself before purchasing the best baby monitor. We at kidsplayandcreate want to help with your decision progress and make it a little easier. We compiled a list of what we believe are the best baby monitors on the market based on product research, reviews, price and personal experience. Here are our top choices in baby monitors.

Infant Optics DXR-8 Video Baby Monitor

We love this monitor. Having a total view of your nursery is now a reality with this Infant Optics DXR-8 Video Baby Monitor. It is the first ever baby monitor with interchangeable optical lenses. This monitor allows you to customize viewing of your baby by switching to different lenses. You can choose any one of the three lenses. It comes with one optical lens for normal viewing and one optical 2x zoom lens for an up-close image and for an additional purchase you can get the wide lens which allows you to see an angle of 170 degrees. We recommend purchasing the wide view lens as when your baby becomes more mobile, you will be able to see more of the room. It’s also great to have to watch people taking care of your baby. The video is streamed in real-time on a 3.5 full-color LCD screen that provides a nice and clear picture. You won’t have to worry about having a grainy picture with this monitor. It has great battery life, 10 hours on power save mode or 6 hours with the screen on all the time. You can choose to either have the screen on all the time or to have it displayed every 3 or 5 minutes. Even with the screen off, you will always hear the sound of your baby. When the sound is off, the LED lights will light up if your baby is crying. You can talk with your baby at a push of a button through the intercom button and you can remotely control the camera’s direction.

Infant Optics Wide Angle Lens (add-on Accessory)

The 170-degree view from this wide-angle lens allows you to view your entire nursery. It is an add-on item for the above Infant Optics DXR-8 video baby monitor. This wide angle lens is great to have for your growing baby. It allows you to watch as your baby who now a toddler plays and explores in their room. It’s a must-have when purchasing the Infant Optics DXR-8 Video Baby Monitor.

Features:

170-degree angle

compatible with the Infant Optics DXR-8 Video Baby Monitor.

Constructed with multi-layered glass lens pieces in an aluminum housing for improved performance.

Easy mounts on the lens in seconds.

Weight 3.2 ounces.

Dimensions 1 x 1 x 1

Hello Baby HB24 Wireless Video Baby Monitor

This wireless video monitor enables you to always keep a close eye on your baby by allowing you to take the parent unit anywhere in the house. It has a crystal clear image with no grainy textures. This baby monitor has an automatic night vision. The infrared LED’s automatically adjust to the level of light in the room so you can see a clear black and white image in low-light or really dark rooms. The parent handset has a rechargeable battery that can last 7-8 hours and has a rage of 960 feet. The parent handset allows you to talk to your baby at a push of a button so you can easily comfort him/her. This monitor also has sound activated LED lights on the parent handset. When the sound is turned down the lights will light up alerting you that your baby is crying or making noise. This is a great feature to have if you are hearing disabled. It also has an audio-only mode to help save battery life. The baby unit is equipped with a room temperature sensor and will let you know what the room temperature is to keep baby comfortable and happy. One of the features we like best on this monitor is the built-in lullabies it has. You can choose one of the eight songs to play to help baby sleep.

Features:

Wireless Video Monitor

Sound activated infrared LED lights to see that your baby is crying when sound is off

The range of 960 feet

Talk to your baby with a push of a button

8 built-in lullabies

Expandable to 4 cameras. You can pair parent handset with up to 4 baby units

This baby monitor by Puretech is definitely made for the modern world. We love it because with a download of a simple app you can watch your baby anywhere right on your phone. Yes, we said it. You can watch your baby right on your phone. It operates through WIFI. The set up is easy, there is no hardware needed. Just download the app, follow the onscreen directions to pair the camera and you’re ready to go. You can even talk to your baby by pushing a button on your phone. You will be able to see your baby in full color that automatically changes to infrared night vision when the baby’s room is dark. The picture will appear on your phone in black and white when the room is dark. It also has a motion detector that will allow you to receive motion detection video clips via cell phone alerts. It comes with a power cord, so you will never have to recharge the device. At an additional cost, you can purchase the cordless external power pack. This great monitor comes in 4 colors including baby blue, pink, ash grey and sunset orange. The product comes with 1 WiFi camera, 1 bracket, 1 AC adapter, 1 USB cable and user manual. This is definitely a great product by Pretech.

Features:

Works through an app on your iPhone or Andriod phone.

Stay connected to your baby at home, the office or anywhere through WiFi, 3G or 4G networks.

Equipped with a 2-way speaker to communicate with your baby through a push of a button.

Philips Avent DECT Baby Monitor

If you are looking for an audio-only monitor, this is our top choice. This baby monitor by Philips has DECT technology that guarantees zero interference from any other transmitting product such as cordless phone, other monitors or cell phones. The DECT technology also provides the highest quality crystal clear sound. With this monitor you will be able to hear every coo, cry, giggle or hic-up that your baby makes. When the audio is muted on the parent handset, the LED lights are activated and light up when your baby is making sounds. This monitor also has a temperature sensor that is displayed digitally on the parent handset. This way you will know any changes in your baby’s room temperature. The Philips Avent DECT Baby Monitor also have a 2-way conversation feature that allows you to talk to your baby through a push of a button. This baby monitor can also help soothe your baby by playing one of the 5 built-in lullabies. It is also equipped with a soft glow nightlight. We love this audio monitor.

Snuza Hero SE Baby Movement Monitor

This monitor is different from the other baby monitors as it tracks your baby’s abdominal movement and alerts you if no movement is detected. The Snuza Hero Baby Movement Monitor attaches to the waistband of your baby’s diaper, just hook it on and it will start to monitor their abdominal movements. It can pick up on even the slightest movement. The monitor will alert you if the abdominal movement is weak or less than 8 movements per minute. The monitor is equipped with a vibration feature. If the monitor does not detect any movement for 15 seconds it will vibrate to stimulate baby. Usually, after the vibration baby starts moving again, however, after an additional 5 seconds of non-movement a sharp alarm will sound alerting you that something is wrong. This is a great monitor for nervous moms who can’t sleep because they are worried about their baby. Remember that though people recommend these monitors, there is no scientific evidence stating that these prevent SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome). Since the Snuza Hero Baby Movement Monitor picks up on external movements it is not recommended for co-sleeping.

Features:

Detects baby’s abdominal movement

Vibration Stimulus feature that will activate if a non-abdominal movement is detected after 15 seconds.

The alarm goes off after no movement is detected for 20 seconds.

Easily clips on to waistband of baby’s diaper.

No setup required.

weight: .6 ounces

Dimensions: 1.8 x 1.6 x 2.8 inches

Do I need a Baby Monitor?

To find out if you really need a baby monitor is to ask yourself a couple questions. The first thing you want to ask yourself is where is your baby going to sleep? For the first couple of months, your baby will probably sleep with you. If this is the case, you may not need to purchase a baby monitor right away. However, if you are going to be spending long periods alone with the baby you still may want to have one from the moment you bring your baby home. This way you can monitor baby while you’re in the bathroom, taking a shower, cleaning, cooking and doing other household chores. Having a baby monitor allows you to always keep an eye on your baby. Another thing you want to ask yourself is how big is my home? If you live in a tiny apartment, you may be able to hear your baby no matter where you are. If you live in a two-story home where the baby may be upstairs, you will definitely want to have a monitor. Another question you will want to ask is how deep of a sleeper are you? If you can sleep through a thunderstorm, you may want to purchase a monitor. You will be able to control the volume on the monitor, so if you are a heavy sleeper, turn the volume all the way up, so you will wake up if baby needs you.

What Else Can I Use a Baby Monitor For?

Since baby monitors can be expensive and babies only stay babies for a short time, you may think it’s not worth the investment. However, there are many ways to use a baby monitor aside from just watching over the baby.

Watching over children

As your baby grows you will still need to keep a close eye on them. They are great to keep in your toddler’s room or playroom to watch over them while you are taking care of other household chores.

Watching over pets

Let’s face it, to some people our pets are our kids and they need to be looked after too.

Watching the Kitchen

Yes, I said it, watching over the kitchen. If you are noticing snacks are disappearing and the kids say it wasn’t them or someone is supposed to be on a diet and you think they may be sneaking food, you may want to watch over the kitchen. They are also great to find out who made the mess that no one will admit to.

Watching over the sick or elderly

For you are caring for a sick or elderly person, you may want to be able to see them and communicate with them at all times.

When Were Baby Monitors Invented?

The first baby monitor was created by the company Zenith.

It came out in 1937 and it was called the Radio Nurse.

The creation was inspired by the 1932 kidnapping of Charles Lindbergh’s Baby.

Zenith’s President, Eugene F. McDonald Jr. asked his engineers to come up with a commercial system of letting parents hear what was going on in their child’s room. Mr. McDonald already had a system in place in his home where he would be able to hear in his daughter’s room.

With help from Japanese designer Isamu Noguchi, the Radio Nurse was created.

Since the Radio Nurse had problems with picking up radio signals from other sources, it never became popular however, it paved the way for the modern day baby monitor.